Plate finishing and trimming machine



`f v E. w. DEAN 2,083,898

I PLATE FINISHING AND TRIMMING MACHINE Jaim 15, 1937.

PLATE FINISHING AND TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20. 1935 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 15, 1987. E. WQDEAN 2,083,898

lPLATE FINISHING AND TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June l5, 1937l l STA S tries PLATE FINISHHNG AND TRIMMING MACHINE Application December 20, 1935, Serial No. 55,466

13 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for finishing tubular stereotype plates, such as are used in rotary printing presses of the type shown in Patents Nos. 867,230 and 867,231, and is an improvement on the machines shown in Patents Nos. 1,129,947 and 1,129,948. By means of said machines a tubular stereotype plate is internally shaved to accurately t the related plate cylinder, and the plate ends are cut to proper length and beveled; so such plate can be immediately placed upon a plate cylinder when it is removed from the machine.

The object of my invention is to simplify and improve the construction of such machines and lessen the cost thereof. And my invention consists in the novel construction of parts, and combinations of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described with reference thereto; and as set forth in the appended claims.

In said drawings:-

Fig. l is a side view of a complete machine embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine base.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the base.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal section on line 6--6, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the top plate cast- Fig. S is a side view' of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a left hand end view thereof.

Fig. 10 is a right hand end view thereof.

My improved machine has a base l carrying a top plate 2 upon which top the operative parts are mounted. A tubular stereotype holder 3 (such as shown in Patent 1,129,948) is rotatably mounted in bearings 2b formed integral with the top plate, and is provided on one end with a ypinion 3a, which is rotatab-ly driven by a pinion 5a on a shaft 5, as hereinafter explained.

Mounted axially of said holder and extending therethrough is a bar 6 which is xedly mounted in standards 2a on the top plate. On this bar 6 is slidably mounted a tool holder 8 carrying a plate trimmer 8a, and said holder can be moved endwise on the shaft by means of a rack bar 6c which meshes with a pinion la on a transverse shaft l, and said holder is normally retracted by means of a weight 6e connected to the rear end of rack bar 6c running over a pulley 6g on a bracket attached to the top plate;

the operative parts so far described operate substantially as described in Patent 1,129,948.

The pinion la is rotatably mounted on a transverse shait i, and has a clutch face 'lb adapted to be engaged by a clutch member 'lc 5 splined on the shaft. rThis clutch member can be mo-ved into or out of engagement with the clutch face 1b by means of a hand lever 'ld (see Fig. 4)

In my improved construction the shaft 5 is 10 mounted in bearings Fm on plate 2, and has a clutch member 5b splined thereon adapted to eni gage with an opposed clutch face 5c on a pulley 5d rotatably mounted on the shaft and preferably driven by means of a belt 5e from a pulley 15 5f on the shaft of a motor M. The clutch 5b is normally held out of engagement but may be thrown into engagement by means of a link 5g which is connected to one arm of a rock lever 5h, the other end of which is connected by suit- 20 able linkage 5i to a foo-t lever 5j. When this foot lever isl depressed the clutch is engaged and shaft 5 rotated and thus rotation imparted to the plate holder 3.

On shaft l is a worm gear le which meshes '25 with a worm 5p on the shaft 5, and when clutch 7b is engaged the holder 3 carrying the cutter will be advanced through the plate P carried by the holder 3. When the clutch lc is disengaged the holder 8 is returned to normal position by 30 the weight 6e.

At opposite ends oi the plate holder are plate end trimmers 9a, mounted on slides 9 guided in casings Sb. Each slide may be moved in or out by means of a pivoted hand lever 9c as indi- 35 cated in the drawings. The trimmers 9u are manually operated to trim the ends of the plate after it is shaved and while it is being rotated by the plate holder, as described in said patent.

The base l is hollow, and is provided with an 40 internal transverse shelf or partition la. It is also provided at one end with an extension chute lg which extends under the adjacent upper `end 0f the top plate- 2, and shavings and trimmings cut from the stereotype plates can drop into the base through openings 2p in the top plate, and can be removed therefrom through an opening in the side of the casing closed by a door lb. The base is also provided with a transverse partition le to which one oi the treadle links 5i is 50 pivoted, the other treadle link 5i being pivoted to the adjacent end wall of the casing, as indicated in Fig. 1.

In the patents aforesaid the bearings for the rotatable plate holder, and the standards carrying the bar 6 are formed separately from the top plate, and must be tooled separately, and then bolted to the top plate and trued up, and if necessary re-bored in order to obtain proper coaxial alignment of the bar 6 and plate holder 3, all of which involves much time and expense. In my present invention the standards 2a for the bar 6, and the lower halves 2b of the bearings for the rotatable plate holder are all cast integral with the top plate 2, thus doing away with the necessity of separate machining of each bearing and standard, and separate bolting of each bearing and standar-d to the top plate. This integral construction enables the bearings for the plate holder to be simultaneously and accurately bored in one machine operation; and the standards 2a for the bar 6 to be accurately bored in one machine operation. Further by forming the bearings and standards integral with the top plate accurate coaxial alignment of the shaft and the plate holder is insured, as it is impossible for them to get out of alignment, and great solidity is obtained.

The standards 2a are bored in axial alignment for reception of shaft 6; and slotted at 2e for reception of bar 8c. vPreferably the standards 2a are slit on one side, as indicated at 2f and bored, as indicated at2g, for the reception of bolts 2h, and when bar 6 is properly adjusted in position, it can be rigidly clamped in such position by tightening the bolts 2h.

The lower journal bearings 2b are nished to receive and support the rotatable plate holder 3, and after the latter is positioned in said bearings, it is confined in position by means of cap plates 2i fastened to bearings 2b by bolts 2j.

The top plate 2 is also preferably provided with an integral extension 2k at one end to support the motor.

1. In a machine for finishing tubular stereotype plates; a rotatable plate holder, a gear thereon, a bar extending axially through said plate holder, a plate trimmer slidably mounted on said bar, a rack bar connected with said trimmer, a shaft disposed transversely of said bar, a pinion loosely mounted on said shaft, a clutch member on said shaft adapted to engage the pinion, a worm gear on said shaft, a driven shaft parallel with the bar, a worm on said shaft meshing with said worm gear, a pinion on said driven shaft meshing with the gear on the plate holder, a pulley loosely mounted on said driven shaft, means for driving said pulley, a clutch member splined on said driving shaft adapted to engage said pulley, and a treadle and connections whereby said clutch member may be thrown into and out of engagement.

2. In a machine of the character specied in claim 1; a top plate having integral spaced and aligned standards in wlnch the bar on which the plate trimmer slides is rigi-dly held, said standards having spaced openings through which the trimmer operating bar passes.

3. In a machine of the character specied in claim 1; a top plate having integral spaced and aligned bearings in which the said plate holder is journaled.

4. In a machine of the character specied in claim 1; a top plate having a pair of spaced aligned standards formed integral therewith and a pair of spaced aligned journal bearing members also formed integral therewith; said standards supporting the bar, and said bearings supporting the plate holder.

5. For a machine of the character specied in claim l, a top plate having a pair of spaced aligned standards supporting the bar and a pair of integral spaced aligned journal bearing members supporting the plate holder, said standards and said bearings being in axial alignment.

6. In a machine of the character specified in claim 1, a top plate having a pair of spaced aligned standards formed integral therewith to support the bar on which the plate trimmer is mounted, the said standards being bored in coaxial alignment and slit at the side of the bores, and clamping bolts tapped through the slit sides of the standards.

7. In a machine of the character specied in claim l; a top plate having a pair of spaced aligned standards formed integral therewith and a pair of spaced aligned journal bearing members also formed integral therewith; said standards supporting the bar, and said bearings supporting the plate holder; said top plate also having openings adjacent the plate holder for the passage of metal shavings and clippings through the top plate.

8. For a machine of the character specied, a hollow base having an internal transverse horizontal partition, and an opening in its side above the partition; an opening for a treadle lever below the partition, and internal supports for treadle links.

9. For a machine of the character specified, a hollow base having an internal horizontal transverse partition, a chute extension at one end, a door opening in its side above the partition, and a treadle opening below the partition.

l0. In a machine of the character specied in claim l; a top plate having integral spaced and aligned standards in which the said bar is supported; a hollow base supporting said plate and having an internal horizontal transverse partition, a chute extension at one end, and an opening in its side.

11. In a machine of the character specified in claim l; a top plate having integral spaced and aligned bearings in which the said plate holder is journaled; a hollow base supporting said plate and having an internal horizontal transverse partition, and a chute extension at one end, an opening in its side above the partition, and a treadle opening below the partition.

12. In a machine of the character specified in claim l; a top plate having a pair of spaced aligned standards formed integral therewith and a pair of spaced aligned journalt bearing members also formed integral therewith; said standards supporting the bar, and said bearings supporting the plate holder; a hollow base supporting said plate and having an internal horizontal transverse partition, a chute extension at one end, and an opening in its side.

13. For a machine of the character specified in claim 1, a top plate having a pair of spaced aligned standards supporting the bar and a pair of integral spaced aligned journal bearing members supporting the plate holder, said standards and said bearings being in axial alignment; a hollow base supporting said plate and having an internal horizontal transverse partition, a chute extension at one end, and an opening in its side.

EDMUND w. DEAN. 

